Head Chef – Luxury Safari Lodge

About the role

A prestigious luxury safari lodge in the Maasai Mara is recruiting, through Nexus Staffing, an accomplished, hands-on and disciplined Head Chef. The successful candidate provides strategic and operational leadership of the kitchen, ensuring high culinary standards and exceptional dining for international guests. The immediate priority is to strengthen kitchen organisation, restore operational discipline and set up effective controls across the kitchen and food storeroom.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, food preparation and service delivery.
• Develop and implement varied, high-quality menus for international guests, catering to special dietary needs and allergies.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, taste, presentation and portion sizes.
• Organise a clean, structured kitchen and storeroom, with proper storage, labelling, stock rotation and inventory management.
• Conduct regular stocktakes, monitor food costs, purchasing, portion control and wastage, and coordinate procurement with the storekeeper and management.
• Supervise, train, mentor and schedule kitchen staff, setting clear responsibilities and performance standards.
• Enforce food hygiene, sanitation, food safety and equipment maintenance, and liaise with the General Manager on kitchen matters.

Required profile

• At least five years of progressive experience in professional kitchens.
• Proven experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a luxury safari lodge, five-star hotel, boutique hotel or comparable establishment.
• Relevant qualification in Culinary Arts, Food Production, Hotel Management or a related field.
• Experience managing kitchen teams and establishing inventory and storeroom controls.
• Willingness to live and work in a remote safari lodge; immediate availability is an added advantage.

Required skills

• International cuisine, menu development and food presentation.
• Food costing, stock management, purchasing, portion control and wastage reduction.
• Good understanding of food hygiene, food safety and HACCP principles; food safety certification is an added advantage.
• Strong leadership, organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.

What we offer

• Remuneration of KSh 120,000 to 150,000 gross per month, depending on qualifications and experience; exceptional candidates may receive a higher package.
• Accommodation and meals provided.